4 Things You Can Do To Be A Better Leader and The Basket

The basket is a great example of leading, alignment and unity.  You will need to read on to find out why.

The New Year will bring many challenges, surprises and victories for you.  Not necessarily in that order.   Here are 4 things you can do to improve as a leader next year.

As author John C. Maxwell states, “everything rises and falls with leadership”.

Leadership is that important.  These 4 things don’t guarantee success, but they will give you something to think about.

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1. Get Rid Of

1. Negative influences – misery loves company – don’t get caught up in the gossip and complaining.
2. Negative people.
3. All the noise – simplify and focus.
4. Learn to let go – get uncomfortable – give something up to pursue something else that will help you reach your potential.
5. Drop whatever you are not good at – delegate it – focus on what you do best.
6. Get rid of “but” thinking.  ”I want to make a difference but…..”.  But never completed or started anything.  But causes hesitation and fear.  It paralyzes movement.

2. Define Success

1. Define your success – don’t let someone else do it for you.
2. Decide what you want and figure out a way to make it happen.
3. Don’t just dream about something – take action and do something – start.
4. Don’t let fear keep you from what you want.
5. Don’t refuse to change – if nothing changes then nothing changes.
6. Know your reality – face the brutal facts of where you are as a leader.  Use this as a starting point to determine what you need to improve.  Work on a deep understanding of your current situation.
7. Know your personal and organizational “why” – do they align?

3. Improve Your Current Skills

1. Leaders are readers – read often from a variety of sources.
2. Understand that the skills that got you where you are now most likely won’t get you where you want to go.
3. Don’t let your success stop your growth – improve your leadership capacity.
4. Find a mentor or mentor someone else.
5. Your personal development is your best job security.
6. Learn to write and communicate – all leaders need this skill – practice.
7. Develop a desire to get better – never settle for the status quo.

4. Give More Than You Get

1. Be a servant leader – wash the feet of your team.
2. Be hands on – get out of the office and lead.
3. Create a giving and learning culture where you work.
4. Model the values and principles of the organization.  Live them.  Make sure your actions are in alignment with what you say.
5. Give your team your time and undivided attention.
6. Give your team the ability to make decisions and fail.  Let them learn and grow from failures and successes.
7. Give your people the ability to make a difference and make a living.
8. Give them the opportunity to delay immediate short term gratification for long term growth.

This is a short list.  Certainly not exhaustive.  But hopefully it will help you maximize the effort of the individuals on your team, department, division, group, family or whoever you lead.

Now, on to the basket.

The Basket

Place a stick by itself and it can’t really do anything.  Put a bunch of sticks on the ground side by side, individually they are strong but still they can’t achieve much.

Now, wrap the sticks together strategically, intertwining their strengths and unifying them  – and you have a basket that holds exponentially more than the individual sticks ever could by themselves.  Output capabilities have also increased exponentially.  The sticks are now useful and have a purpose.

Go lead and build your basket.

What will you do this year to strengthen your leadership basket? What would you add to the lists?